Last few days to register for the new ECIU University challenges

Students can participate in any of the real-life challenges offered by the different ECIU member universities, and validate their experience with up to 6 ECTS credits.

Registration for this semester’s ECIU University challenges is about to close. In this edition, UAB students will be able to choose from the 18 challenges proposed by the different European institutions on a wide range of topics: from green mobility to the circular economy, to the digitalization of cities. The UAB offers 3 for this semester:

Prevention of textile waste: the objective is to acquire the tools needed to set down the bases for a project which can raise awareness among the population and create the infrastructure needed to reduce textile waste. To do so, participants will be asked to analyse clothing consumption and disposal habits, and the changes people should make to reduce the impact of the textile industry.

Sustainability and food use: this challenge aims to guarantee the logistical and technological mechanisms and circuits that allow planning, gathering, distributing, supervising and guaranteeing the traceability of food from the points of use to the points of distribution, taking into account the specificities of towns mainly in the Vallès Occidental region.

Transform the free food distribution program guaranteeing alimentary security for vulnerable groups (2n edition): the objective here is to rethink and transform the current model of food safety (free and subsidary-based), while bearing in mind the entire food value chain and its actors in order to provide a comprehensive transformation in relation to policies and practices, and at the same time guaranteeing that the needs of vulnerable groups are met.

International Challenges

In addition to the challenges offered by the UAB, students can sign up for different proposals offered by the other universities belonging to the consortium. At the moment, the University of Hamburg, INSA, Kaunas University, Stavanger University and the University of Trento are now accepting applications for their challenges, which range from circular economy to the improvement of transport and the digitalisation of cities or the development of self-sufficient buildings.

The essence of the ECIU University is a challenge-based approach in which students, lecturers and researchers work with businesses and society in general to solve real-life problems.

Since the first challenges were offered in 2020, over one hundred students have participated in different challenges in subjects ranging from the transformation in the free distribution of food to the use of public spaces.

Why sign up for one of the ECIU University's challenges

The challenges students are faced with aim to have an impact on society by applying techniques that can solve real problems found in communities. in this sense, students form part of international and multidisciplinary teams that will allow them not only to establish new contacts, but also develop and improve teamworking and problem-resolution competences and skills.

In order to participate in a challenge, students must register with the ECIU University platform and request for admission to a programme. They must also fulfil the following requirements: currently enrolled in one of the 12 member institutions, be in their last year of a bachelor's or master's degree, have completed at least 120 ECTS credits, have a B2 level of English of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, and, optionally, experience in entrepreneurship.

Fore more information please visit:

ECIU University challenges platform
Jana Vives tells us about the ECIU University